Unholy Death Knight PvE Guide - Wrath Classic (WOTLK)

Wrath Classic (WOTLK) Unholy Death Knight Rotation

Unholy Death Knights have a true rotation that revolves around maintaining
Frost Fever
and
Blood Plague
with
Icy Touch
and
Plague Strike
,
Blood Strike
and
Blood Boil
to consume Blood Runes, and casting
Death and Decay
as often as possible.

Opener

1. Start in
   Unholy Presence
   .
2. You can also use
   Death and Decay
   and
   Horn of Winter
   before pull for Runic Power.
3. Use
   Bone Shield
   and
   Ghoul Frenzy
   10 seconds before pull.
4. Pre-pot
   Potion of Speed
   if you will cast
   Summon Gargoyle
   more than once in the fight.
5. Use
   Icy Touch
   .
6. Use
   Plague Strike
   .
7. Use
   Blood Strike
   .
8. If you have
   Scourge Strike
   , use
   Scourge Strike
   into
   Blood Strike
   . Otherwise, use
   Death and Decay
   .
9. Use
   Blood Tap
   .
10. Use
    Ghoul Frenzy
    .
11. Use
    Summon Gargoyle
    .
12. Use
    Empower Rune Weapon
    .
13. Activate any on-use effects. (Trinkets, racials, etc).
14. If you have
    Scourge Strike
    , use
    Death and Decay
    . Otherwise, skip this step.
15. Use
    Army of the Dead
    .
16. Use
    Icy Touch
    .
17. Use
    Plague Strike
    .
18. Use
    Blood Boil
    .
19. Use
    Blood Presence
    once
    Summon Gargoyle
    ends.
20. Proceed with normal rotation.

Single Target

1. Use
   Blood Presence
   .
2. Maintain
   Horn of Winter
   if assigned.
3. Maintain
   Bone Shield
   .
4. Use
   Summon Gargoyle
   .
5. Use
   Empower Rune Weapon
   .
6. Use
   Blood Tap
   with
   Ghoul Frenzy
   .

True Rotation

1. Use
   Death Coil
   if you will cap on Runic Power or have a free GCD.
2. Use
   Icy Touch
   .
3. Use
   Plague Strike
   .
4. Use
   Blood Strike
   .
5. Use
   Death and Decay
   .
6. If
   Ghoul Frenzy
   has 10 seconds or less remaining:
7. Use
   Ghoul Frenzy
   .
8. Use
   Icy Touch
   .
9. Use
   Blood Boil
   .
10. Proceeed to steps 1 - 5.
11. If
    Ghoul Frenzy
    has more than 10 seconds remaining:
12. Use
    Scourge Strike
    if talented, otherwise use
    Icy Touch
    followed by
    Plague Strike
    .
13. Use
    Blood Boil
    .
14. Proceeed to steps 1 - 5.

AoE

1. Use
   Death Coil
   if you will cap on Runic Power or have a free GCD.
2. Use
   Icy Touch
   .
3. Use
   Plague Strike
   .
4. As long as you have
   Blood Tap
   available, use
   Blood Strike
   to proc
   Desolation
   .
5. Use
   Pestilence
   .
6. Use
   Blood Tap
   .
7. Use
   Death and Decay
   .
8. If
   Ghoul Frenzy
   has 10 seconds or less remaining:
9. Use
   Ghoul Frenzy
   .
10. Use
    Icy Touch
    .
11. Use
    Pestilence
    .
12. Proceeed to steps 1 - 6.
13. If
    Ghoul Frenzy
    has more than 10 seconds remaining:
14. Use
    Scourge Strike
    if talented, otherwise use
    Icy Touch
    followed by
    Plague Strike
    .
15. Use
    Pestilence
    .
16. Proceeed to steps 1 - 6.

Wrath Classic (WOTLK) Unholy Death Knight Talents

Dual-wield Build

Scourge Strike

Wrath Classic (WOTLK) Unholy Death Knight Glyphs

Major:
Death and Decay
,
Dark Death
,
Ghoul
Minor:
Blood Tap
,
Raise Dead
,
Pestilence

Wrath Classic (WOTLK) Unholy Death Knight Stats

Hit Cap

• 10% (263 Rating) with
  Heroic Presence
  ,
  Virulence
  , and
  Misery
  or
  Improved Faerie Fire
• 11% (289 Rating) with
  Virulence
  and
  Misery
  or
  Improved Faerie Fire
• 13% (342 Rating) with
  Heroic Presence
  and
  Virulence
• 14% (368 Rating) with
  Virulence

Expertise Cap

• 132 Rating with
  Mace Specialization
  from Dwarf or
  Axe Specialization
  from Orc, and
  Rage of Rivendare
• 148 Rating with
  Mace Specialization
  or
  Sword Specialization
  from Human, and
  Rage of Rivendare
• 173 Rating with
  Rage of Rivendare

Wrath Classic (WOTLK) Unholy Death Knight Best Consumables

Flasks and Elixirs

Best:
• Flask of Endless Rage

Alternatives:
• Elixir of Mighty Strength
  ,
• Elixir of Protection

Food

Best:
• Dragonfin Filet

Alternatives:
• Snapper Extreme
  ,
• Worg Tartare
  ,
• Rhinolicious Wormsteak

Potions

Best:
• Potion of Speed

Alternatives:
• Indestructible Potion

Miscellaneous

Best:
• Spiced Mammoth Treats

Wrath Classic (WOTLK) Unholy Death Knight Best Races

Alliance

1. Human:
   Sword Specialization
   and
   Mace Specialization
2. Dwarf:
   Mace Specialization
3. Draenei:
   Heroic Presence

Horde

1. Orc:
   Axe Specialization
   and
   Blood Fury
2. Troll:
   Berserking
3. Blood Elf:
   Arcane Torrent

Wrath Classic (WOTLK) Unholy Death Knight Best Professions

1. Engineering: Best profession thanks to
   Nitro Boosts
   ,
   Hyperspeed Accelerators
   enchants,
   Global Thermal Sapper Charge
   , and
   Charged Titanium Specs
   for early gearing.
2. Jewelcrafting: Second best profession thanks to the 3 unique gems such as
   Bold Dragon's Eye
   .
3. Blacksmithing: Third best profession during phases 3+ thanks to
   Socket Bracer
   and
   Socket Gloves
   .
4. Leatherworking, Tailoring, Enchanting, Inscription, and Alchemy: All provide comparable stat bonuses with
   Fur Lining - Attack Power
   ,
   Swordguard Embroidery
   ,
   Ring - Assault
   ,
   Master's Inscription of the Axe
   , and
   Mixology
   respectively.
5. Skinning:
   Master of Anatomy
   .